Machine for making open-ended containers



Dec. 17, 1968 H. M. HILL v 3,416,413

MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN-ENDED CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. '17, 1968 MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN-ENDED CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. M. HILL- 3,416,413

Dec. 17, 1968 H. M. HILL 3,416,413

I J MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN-ENDED CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet s 99 F|g 6 7 I41 I00 74 I06 49 Dec. 17, 1968 H. M HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN-ENDED CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,416,413 MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN-ENDED CONTAINERS Howard M. Hill, Hamilton, Va. 22068 Filed Sept. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 668,330

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 9355.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for forming sheet material into container bodies, sealing the side seam and closing one end, in which the container may pass through the closure applying means upon completion of its operation.

This invention relates to a machine for rapidly producing a container having one end open from sheet material such as paper.

An object of the invention is increase in speed of production in an operation of this kind.

Another object is the simplification of machinery for producing an open-ended container made from sheet material.

A further object of the invention is the performance of several operations in a single machine which are usually performed in two or more machines, thereby saving space.

Yet another object of the invention is reduction in cost of container-producing machinery.

With reference to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the machine with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the under side of the machine with parts broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 in FIGURE 1 with parts broken away.

FIGURE 4 is another section taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1 showing operating parts in a second position and with parts broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the pressure-applying jaws and jaw-operating cam of FIGURE 3 showing all fourjaws.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken along the line 6--6 in FIGURE 2 showing the hammer operating cam and follower and the air valve and cam with parts broken away.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along the line 7--7 in FIGURE 2 showing the mandrel support cam and follower.

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 in FIGURE 2 showing the end assembly jaw operating barrel cam and mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 in FIG- URE 2 showing the side feed barrel cam and operating mechanism with parts broken away. w

FIGURE 10 is a section taken along line 10-10 in FIGURE 2 showing vertical feed face cam groove in the flywheel and operating mechanism with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention FIGURE 1 illustrates a machine made up of main table 11, arch frame 12, and auxiliary table 13. Situated at the extreme left of FIGURE 1 and attached to main table 11 is feed stack 14 containing blanks 15 from which body 16 is formed. A plain rectangular blank scored for folding has been shown but blanks of irregular shape and having flaps for the formation of bottom and top closures may be used.

In the operation of the machine the bottom blank 15 is separated from the stack and advanced intermittently to succeeding stations by blank feed bar 17 and fingers 3,416,413 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 18. At the first station beyond feed stack 14, blank 15 rests beneath stationary mandrel 19 and above folding steel 20. A similar folding steel is located in a corresponding position on the opposite side of stationary mandrel 19. As blank feed bar 17 moves back under feed stack 14 to feed another blank 15, a second pair of fingers 18 engages the rearward edge of blank 15 shown with its forward edge under stationary mandrel 19. The motion of finger bar 17 is produced and governed by blank feed bar eccentric 21 (FIGURE 2) operating upon the rotation of cam shaft 22 and transmitting motion through eccentric strap 23, tie rod 24, rod end 25, blank feed bar extension 26, and pin 27 to blank feed bar 17. Blank feed bar extension 26 extends downward through slot 28 in main table 11. As the second pair of feed fingers 18 referred to above engages the rearward edge of blank 15 (FIGURE 1) now having its forward edge under stationary mandrel 19 and as blank feed bar 17 again advances, blank 15 is urged forward; and under the influence of folding steels 20 located at each side of stationary mandrel 19, the two outer panels at each end of blank 15 are brought into an upright position lying close to the sides of stationary mandrel 19. In this posture, blank 15 held by guard rails 47 at each side of stationary mandrel 19 is then advanced a number of stations under stationary mandrel support arch 29 which is rigidly attached to main frame 11 and stationary mandrel 19. For the purpose of moving blanks 15 and bodies 16 through the various stations of the machine, finger bar 17 extends the length of stationary mandrel 19 and is equipped with fingers 18 throughout its length; the last of which positions a body 16 so that its forward edge exactly meets the forward end of stationary mandrel 19 (FIGURE 3). I have chosen to use a blank 15 having an all-over coating of a thermoplastic material that serves both as a water-proofing and as an adhesive at all junctures where seams are to be made so that the application of heat prepares the material to become adhesive. In other forms of the machine a wet adhesive may be applied to the areas to be seamed or a thermoplastic material may be printed on the areas to be sea-med. Since I have chosen to illustrate my invention in the form of a machine utilizing a blank coated with a thermoplastic material, I have provided heaters 30 and 31 (FIGURE 1) located under stationary mandrel support arch 29 so positioned that the areas of outer flap 32 and inner flap 33 that contact each other when the side seam is made up receive direct heat and become actively adhesive, the thermoplastic used being inactive at and somewhat above normal room temperature. After blank 15 emerges from under stationary mandrel support arch 29, a second set of folding steels similar to folding steels 20 and attached to arch frame 12 bring inner flap 33 and outer flap 32 into seaming position and guide them under side seam hammer 34 in its raised position. Immediately before side seam hammer 34 descends to make up the body side seam 35 and after blank 15 is positioned under side seam hammer 34, mandrel support 36 is raised against blank 15 and through it supports stationary mandrel 19 against the pressure of side seam hammer 34. Mandrel support 36 is actuated by mandrel support rod 37 (FIGURES 1 and 7) moved by mandrel support cam follower 38 (FIGURE 7) and mandrel support cam 39 (FIGURES 2 and 7). Side seam hammer 34 now descends under the action of side seam hammer cam 40 (FIGURES 2 and 6) transmitted by side seam hammer cam follower 41, side seam hammer tie rod 42, rod end 43, pin 44, side seam hammer lever 45, and pin 46 (FIGURES 1, 2, and 6). Side seam hammer 34 now rises and mandrel support 36 descends releasing the body with finished side seam 35 for advancement to the next station by action of blank feed bar 17 and finger 3 18 (FIGURES l and 3). Body 16 is now advanced through two idle stations and positioned with its forward edge exactly meeting the forward end of stationary mandrel 19 as previously recited.

In the following description, in order to distinguish between the container End and the end of any machine part, I have used a capital E in the word End wherever it refers to the container part.

Situated adjacent the forward end of stationary mandrel 1 9 (FIGURE 1) is a container End applying device 48 consisting of End applying head 49, End side feed 50, End vertical feed 51, and End feed stack 52. End applying head 49 is mounted in gibs 53 and 54 on auxiliary table 13 and arranged for reciprocating motion lengthwise of stationary mandrel 19 through the action of eccentric 55 and eccentric strap 56 acting to provide motion through tie rod 57, rod end 58, pin 59, and lower extension 60 of End applying head 49 (FIGURES 1, 2, and 3). Attached rigidly to the side of End applying head 49 (FIGURE 1) and at all times moving with the End applying head is End side feed 50, having cover plate 61 and End side feed finger bar 62 broken away to show End 63 in position to be fed by End side feed finger bar 62 to End applying head 49. Motion for End side feed finger bar 62 is provided by End side feed barrel cam 64 (FIGURES 2 and 9) transmitting motion through cam roll 65, pin 66, lever 67, shaft 68 mounted in bearings 69 and 70, and gear segment 71-all located on the under side of auxiliary table 13 (FIGURES 2 and 3) thence upward through meshing gear segment lever 72 (FIGURE 3) mounted on pin 73 extending from back plate 74 of End applying head 49 and through the upper extension of gear segment lever 72 to rod end 75 and through rod 76 to a second rod end 77, End side feed finger bar extension 78, and End side feed finger bar 62 which is attached to End side feed finger bar extension 78.

As may be seen from the foregoing description and the drawings it is necessary that gear segment lever 72 (FIG- URE 3) move with End applying head 49 and at the same time remain in mesh with gear segment 71. This is provided for by making a wide face on gear segment 71 as at 79 and cutting slot 80 in auxiliary table 13 (FIGURE 2) for the proper clearance.

Located immediately above End side feed 50 (FIG- URE 1) is End vertical feed 51 with End feed stack 52 both of which are rigidly fastened to arch frame 12 by bracket 81. Ends are fed from End feed stack 52 by End vertical feed bar 82 actuated by pin 83, rod end 84, tie rod 85, rod end 86, pin 87, bell crank 88, pin 89, rod end 90, tie rod 91, rod end 92, pin 93, lever 94, pin 95, and cam roll 96 following cam groove 97 cut in the face of flywheel 98 mounted on cam shaft 22 (FIGURES 2, and Since End side feed 50 (FIGURE 1) is rigidly attached to End applying head 49 and End vertical feed 51 is rigidly attached to arch frame 12, the timing of the machine is such that End vertical feed 51 delivers End 63 to End side feed 50 when End side feed 50 is at rest directly beneath End vertical feed 51. To heat the thermoplastic coating on End 63 and prepare the inner surface of the marginal area turned up to make flange 99 on the finished container 100, a heater 101 is installed to direct heat by radiation to the marginal portions on four sides of End 63. This heater may be gas fired or wired for electrical energy and may direct its heat to End 63 at one or more stations along the path of travel of End 63. I have shown an electric heater receiving current through wires 102 and 103 (FIGURE 1).

Simultaneously with the feeding of a blank from stack 14 (FIGURE 1), an End 63 is fed from stack 52. The stations in the paths of travel of both container parts are of equal number so that both the body 16 and (End 63 arrive at End applying head 49 (FIGURE 3) at the same time, the blank 15- having been side seamed to make body 16 still carried over stationary mandrel 19 and the End 63 having been heat treated to properly tackify the adhesive on the side to be brought against body 16. Within End applying head 49 are pressure applying jaws 104, 105, 106, and 107 (FIGURES 3 and 5). Jaws 104 and 105 are cut away in part as at 108 and 109 respectively to provide clearance for the extra thickness of material in side seam 35.

When End 63 (FIGURE 3) carried in rails 110 and 111 set in back plate 74 of End applying head 49 arrives opposite the end of stationary mandrel 19 and body 16 arrives at the end of stationary mandrel 19 still internally supported by stationary mandrel 19, End applying head 49 starts to move in the direction of the length of stationary mandrel 19 toward stationary mandrel 19 under. the urging of eccentric 5-5 (FIGURES 2 and 3) transmitted through eccentric strap 56, tie rod 57, rod end 58, and pin 59 to lower extension 60 of End applying head 49. At this time pressure applying jaws 104, 10 5, 106, and 107 are in a retracted position (FIGURE 3) such that as they approach stationary mandrel 19 the jaws have sufficient clearance radially from the mandrel to allow for the thickness of the material in body 16 plus the thickness of material in End 63 on all four sides plus an additional amount of clearance to permit End 63 to be [freely drawn about body 16 internally supported by stationary mandrel 19. This drawing action occurs as End applying head 49 continues to move in the direction of stationary mandrel 19 until the condition shown by FIG- URE 4 exists, i.e. End 63 has been drawn about body 16 forming flanges 99 on all four sides of container 100. When End applying head 49 reaches the position shown by FIGURE 4, longitudinal motion of the head stops and rotary motion is imparted to pressure applying jaw cam 112 (FIGURE 5) through the gear teeth 113 cut in the lower extension of pressure applying jaw cam 112 which extends through slot 114 (FIGURE 2) cut in auxiliary table 13 and meshes with gear segment lever 115 (FIGURES 2 and 3) which receives motion from barrel cam 116 (FIGURES 2 and 8) transmitted through cam roll 117, pin 118, lever .119, shaft 120 supported by bearing 121, lever 122, pin 123, rod end 124, tie rod 125, rod end 126, and pin 127 (FIGURES 2, 3, and 8). Gear segment lever 115, mounted on shaft 128 supported by bracket 129, is provided with a wide face 130 (FIG- URE 3) having gear teeth cut into it and meshing with gear teeth 113 out in the lower end of pressure applying jaw cam 112. The wide face 130 of gear segment lever 115 is provided to permit longitudinal motion of End applying head 49 while still keeping the gear teeth 113 on pressure applying jaw cam 112 in mesh with teeth 130 on gear segment lever 115 which is fixed longitudinally to auxiliary table 13 by shaft 128 and bracket 129.

When the rotary motion just described is imparted to pressure applying jaw cam 112, rotation through a small arc causes cam rolls .131 to follow cam grooves 132 to reach the positions shown in FIGURE 5. Cam rolls 131 acting through pins .133 which are firmly attached to pressure applying jaws 104, 105, 106, and 107 cause these jaws to approach body 16 with drawn End 63 when stationary mandrel .19 and End applying 'head 49 are in the relative positions shown in FIGURE 4. The pressure applied by pressure applying jaws 104, 105, 106, and 107 causes the tacky face of margins 99 of End 63 to adhere to the outer surface of body 16 on all four sides to complete open ended container 100 (FIGURES 1 and 4).

To remove the finished open ended container 100 from stationary mandrel .19, barrel cam 116 (FIGURES 2 and 8) by further rotation acts through the connecting parts as described above in a reverse direction and pressure applying jaw cam 112 is rotated through a small arc in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 5) bringing pressure applying jaws 104, 105, 106, and 107 out of contact with drawn flanges 99 of open ended container 100. The container thus released is removed from the end of stationary mandrel 19 by a blast of air into the interior of container 100 delivered through passage 134 in stationary mandrel 19 (FIGURE 3) connected by pipe fittings 135 passing downward through opening 136 in main table 11 (FIGURES 1 and 2) and connecting through horizontal pipe 137 to air valve 13 8 supported by bracket 139 attached to main table 11. Air valve 138 is opened and closed at the proper times by lobe 140 of earn 141 mounted on the periphery of hammer cam 40 (FIGURES 2 and 6) acting through plunger 142 to admit air through pipe 143 from a source not shown.

This admission of air to the interior of the container by means of passage 134 through stationary mandrel 19 and delivery ofcontainer 100 through End applying head 49 is one of the most important features of the invention lending great speed to the entire container making operation. It is well known to make a container body at high speed on apparatus similar to that I have shown in FIG- URE 1 up to the point where body 1 6 enters End applying head 49. Some have used similar apparatus and have continued the manufacture of the container in another machine. Others have used more complicated and slower apparatus incorporating mandrels mounted in multiple on turrets rotating intermittently in either a horizontal or a vertical plane and having several stations located about the periphery of the turret for performing the necessary operations.

I have shown container 100 (FIGURE 1) as delivered from stationary mandrel 19 through End applying head 49 resting on plate 144. It is not intended that this be the final automatic operation on the container, though it could be, but the container 100 be delivered directly from stationary mandrel 19 through End applying head 49 to a feed turret or chain of either a filling and closing machine or apparatus for producing a top closure on the container and then filling.

It is thought that the invention and many of its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without depalting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:-

L In a machine for making an open ended container a body blank feed and means advancing said body blank intermittently to and along a stationary mandrel about which said body blank is formed and side seamed to make a container body, and an end applying head mounted on said machine to surround and engage said stationary mandrel adjacent its forward end, said end applying head fitted with an end feed arranged to feed an end and with movable jaws reciprocally operable to apply an end to said container body, said end applying head designed to permit passage of said open ended container off the forward end of said stationary mandrel and completely through said end applying head.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said end applying head is movable in the direction of the length of said stationary mandrel and is arranged to feed, form, and attach a separate end to said container body.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein all container seams are made by means of a thermoplastic adhesive brought to a tacky condition by heaters located along the paths of travel of said body blank and said end.

4. The machine of claim 1 wherein one or more of the container seams is made by means of adhesive applied in liquid form.

5. In a machine for making an open ended container a body blank feed and means advancing said body blank intermittently to and along a stationary mandrel about which said body blank is formed and side seamed to make a container body, and an end applying head mountedon said machine to surround and engage said stationary madrel adjacent its forward end, said end applying head fitted Wit-h movable jaws reciprocally operable to form an end closure on one end of said containerbody and arranged to permit passage of said open ended container off the forward end of said stationary mandrel and completely through said end applying head.

6. In combination, a stack of container body blanks and means feeding said blanks one by one from said stack; means advancing said blanks intermittently along a stationary mandrel w hile forming said blanks into tubularbodies and sealing a side seam at the point of overlap of two free edges; means situated at the forward end of said stationary mandrel feeding an end closure member and equipped to attach said end closure member to said side seamed tubular body by adhesive action; and provision of clearance through said end closure member attaching means permitting passage of said tubular body and said end closure member completely through siad end closure member attaching means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,106,419 8/1914 Starr 9355.1 2,585,031 2/1952 Odquist et al 9955.1 2,737,090 3/ 1956 Nordquist 9355.1

BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 93-391 

